Global ESG leader receives honorary professorship at AMBS

Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) has appointed Sacha Sadan, the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) director, as an honorary professor.

Sacha has been director of ESG at the FCA since 2021, in a role that was specifically created to help the organisation develop and advocate its approach to sustainable finance, both domestically and internationally. He will use his expertise to support research academics and students at AMBS, which is part of The University of Manchester.

Sacha is playing a pivotal role in developing the FCA’s approach to supporting a market-led transition to a more sustainable economy, in recognition of the Government’s commitment to a net zero economy by 2050, and their ambitions around the provision of sustainable finance. Sacha is also currently working with counterparts internationally for a set of clearly defined sustainability metrics via the International Sustainability Standards Board.

During his career Sacha has been an asset owner, fund manager and global stewardship director. Before joining the FCA, he was director of investment stewardship at Legal & General Investment Management, one of the largest asset management firms in Europe,

He was also formerly a senior UK equity manager at Gartmore where he co-managed a range of UK equity hedge, retail and institutional funds. Sacha is also an alumnus of The University of Manchester, holding a BA(Econ) in Accounting and Finance.

Sacha Sadan commented “I have been a good friend of Alliance Manchester Business School for many years, working with talented academics who are at the very forefront of research into ESG issues. It is a real honour and accolade to now make my relationship with AMBS more formal and to offer my practical knowledge and experience to both academics and students.

“I am really excited about sharing ideas and connections with AMBS, and playing my part in developing evidence-based research into such a crucial area as ESG. As an alumnus it is also wonderful for me personally to be given this title by The University of Manchester.”

In his role as an honorary professor, Sacha will use his personal expertise to help support staff and students in understanding and analysing ESG issues.

Professor Fiona Devine, head of AMBS, said: “We are delighted that Sacha is joining AMBS as an honorary professor. Sacha has worked with academics in our Accounting and Finance division at the School for many years and brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge of the ESG agenda, which is so critical for all businesses and organisations today. He will also bring invaluable insights of this agenda to all our students.”